"We have a biblical responsibility to be involved in the public arena proclaiming God's truth."

And when thou pray, thou shall not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing inthe synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.But thou, when thou pray, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret...[Matthew 6:6 & 7]

The funniest thing about these jerks is that they don't realize (or deliberately choose not to, which is much worse) that the separation clause is there to protect them as much as it is to protect our form of governance. It's a two-way street.

Diogenes:The funniest thing about these jerks is that they don't realize (or deliberately choose not to, which is much worse) that the separation clause is there to protect them as much as it is to protect our form of governance. It's a two-way street.

"Satan runs across the world with his doubt and with his untruths and what have you and one of the untruths out there that is driven is that people of faith should not be involved in the public arena," Perry said during the call on Tuesday

What? Who said that? You do know that, "don not make laws based strictly off religious opinion," is a far cry from, "people of faith should not be involved in the public arena"? Wait. ...not make laws... religious == faith... not... in.. public arena. Close enough. Basic reading comprehension be damned.

Perry said the separation of religious and civic institutions in the U.S. began with a "narrative" that first took root in the 1960s.

"Somehow or another there's this, ya know, steel wall, this iron curtain or whatever you want to call it between the church and people of faith and this separation of church and state is just false on its face,"

Diogenes:The funniest thing about these jerks is that they don't realize (or deliberately choose not to, which is much worse) that the separation clause is there to protect them as much as it is to protect our form of governance. It's a two-way street.

I don't think they believe what they say, for the most part. They simply say something to pander to their base and to score points. The sad part is when their supporters actually believe them and then push for those changes. I'm reminded of A HandMaiden's Tale and the lavish parties they threw, all while forcing everyone to live a rigid conservative lifestyle.

of course, "former GOP presidential frontrunner" also applies to certified batshiat crazies such as michelle bachmann, herman cain, newt gingrich, and rick santorum - pretty much "anyone but romney." and look who they ended up with....

the sad thing is, jon huntsman would be ahead right now if he had gotten the GOP nom.

impaler:Perry said the separation of religious and civic institutions in the U.S. began with a "narrative" that first took root in the 1960s.

"Somehow or another there's this, ya know, steel wall, this iron curtain or whatever you want to call it between the church and people of faith and this separation of church and state is just false on its face,"

I think someone's history book has a few pages stuck together.

Let's just get these out of the way:

Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between Man & his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, & not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should "make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," thus building a wall of separation between Church & State. - Thomas Jefferson

As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion,-as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquility, of Mussulmen,-and as the said States never entered into any war or act of hostility against any Mahometan nation, it is declared by the parties that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries. - Treaty of Tripoli, signed by President John Adams (the first one who co-drafted the Declaration of Independence)

"The Tooth Fairy flies across the world with her money and teeth and what have you and one of the untruths out there that is driven is that children can try to stay awake to see her.," Perry said during the call on Tuesday

impaler:Perry said the separation of religious and civic institutions in the U.S. began with a "narrative" that first took root in the 1960s.

"Somehow or another there's this, ya know, steel wall, this iron curtain or whatever you want to call it between the church and people of faith and this separation of church and state is just false on its face,"

I think someone's history book has a few pages stuck together.

It goes back even further, but really took off when the Irish showed up.

We had Jefferson's words, but something about the huge influx of Catholics scared the shiat out of the Protestants, so they turned to the Establishment clause to keep the Catholics and by extension the Pope out of things.

I don't think I can put it any better than user "webcelt" in TFC: Sometimes I wonder how the Republicans could pick so lousy a candidate as Romney, and then one of the primary losers speaks up and I figure it out.

Satan really gets a bad rap. Unlike God, there's nothing in the Bible about Satan committing genocide or killing children. All he's really accused of is hiding fossils and giving an apple to a naked chick.

Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between Man & his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, & not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should "make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," thus building an iron curtain has descended across the Continent. Behind that line lie all the capitals of the ancient states of Central and Eastern Europe. Warsaw, Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Budapest, Belgrade, Bucharest and Sofia, all these famous cities and the populations around them lie in what I must call the Soviet sphere" - Winston Churchill

the 2nd amendment is what the founders really meant, not the 1st...they got that one wrong, but didn't cross it off because it would've meant they had to start writing it all over again. they made sure they put a good one down after that 1st amendment screw up

"Somehow or another there's this, ya know, steel wall, this iron curtain or whatever you want to call it between the church and people of faith and this separation of church and state is just false on its face," the governor said. "We have a biblical responsibility to be involved in the public arena proclaiming God's truth."

Theocracy is bad. I don't care what god you worship (or don't worship), any theocratic government is bad. I won't vote for it, and in fact i'll fight against it. the Founding Fathers were very smart folks. they knew that a theocratic form of government was a terrible idea, and took steps to make sure the US government wasn't infected by a state sponsored religion.

Weaver95:Theocracy is bad. I don't care what god you worship (or don't worship), any theocratic government is bad. I won't vote for it, and in fact i'll fight against it. the Founding Fathers were very smart folks. they knew that a theocratic form of government was a terrible idea, and took steps to make sure the US government wasn't infected by a state sponsored religion.

I agree. But just for funs sake, couldn't we say a government that cradles us from outside the womb to tomb, with topside government health care, food stamps, EIC, retirement, you know, kinda of like all of our real need? health, food, money, and oldfart worry free. Not that I'm saying government is good at any of these things, but they try, and mean well. To me that is a religion to the state. When the government has all that control on your food, health and money, they control you. Worse than religion actually.

EatTheWorld:Weaver95: Theocracy is bad. I don't care what god you worship (or don't worship), any theocratic government is bad. I won't vote for it, and in fact i'll fight against it. the Founding Fathers were very smart folks. they knew that a theocratic form of government was a terrible idea, and took steps to make sure the US government wasn't infected by a state sponsored religion.

I agree. But just for funs sake, couldn't we say a government that cradles us from outside the womb to tomb, with topside government health care, food stamps, EIC, retirement, you know, kinda of like all of our real need? health, food, money, and oldfart worry free. Not that I'm saying government is good at any of these things, but they try, and mean well. To me that is a religion to the state. When the government has all that control on your food, health and money, they control you. Worse than religion actually.

Religion sucks. Government sucks. Together they make a ultra-vortex of suck. Imagine if you will, a musical duet of Rebecca Black and Creed.

EatTheWorld:Weaver95: Theocracy is bad. I don't care what god you worship (or don't worship), any theocratic government is bad. I won't vote for it, and in fact i'll fight against it. the Founding Fathers were very smart folks. they knew that a theocratic form of government was a terrible idea, and took steps to make sure the US government wasn't infected by a state sponsored religion.

I agree. But just for funs sake, couldn't we say a government that cradles us from outside the womb to tomb, with topside government health care, food stamps, EIC, retirement, you know, kinda of like all of our real need? health, food, money, and oldfart worry free. Not that I'm saying government is good at any of these things, but they try, and mean well. To me that is a religion to the state. When the government has all that control on your food, health and money, they control you. Worse than religion actually.

it's really very simple - right now my choices are between a mildly right of center Democrat (Obama) and a far right wing vulture capitalist who (ab)uses his religion to justify his greed and selfish grab for power. you cannot support the Republicans without supporting the right wing theocrats who infest the GOP these days. it's impossible to separate the two factions. you cannot scrub the Jesus out of the Republicans no matter how hard you try. Given the realities of our situation, my support has to go to the Democrats (at the national level) and the libertarians (at the state/local level). I cannot vote Republican, nor can I justify supporting the GOP in any manner.

Mugato:Satan really gets a bad rap. Unlike God, there's nothing in the Bible about Satan committing genocide or killing children. All he's really accused of is hiding fossils and giving an apple to a naked chick.

Mugato:Satan really gets a bad rap. Unlike God, there's nothing in the Bible about Satan committing genocide or killing children. All he's really accused of is hiding fossils and giving an apple to a naked chick.

Cue Pacino: "Why not? I'm here on the ground with my nose in it since the whole thing began. I've nurtured every sensation man's been inspired to have. I cared about what he wanted and I never judged him. Why? Because I never rejected him. In spite of all his imperfections, I'm a fan of man! I'm a humanist. Maybe the last humanist. "

quickdraw:Mugato: Satan really gets a bad rap. Unlike God, there's nothing in the Bible about Satan committing genocide or killing children. All he's really accused of is hiding fossils and giving an apple to a naked chick.

FTFA: Perry said the separation of religious and civic institutions in the U.S. began with a "narrative" that first took root in the 1960s....this separation of church and state is just false on its face," the governor said. "We have a biblical responsibility to be involved in the public arena proclaiming God's truth."

Weaver95:you cannot scrub the Jesus out of the Republicans no matter how hard you try

we could try? if we put Perry, Bachman, Akin, Santorum, and all their batshiat crazy friends on a boat to Fiji, I know that would be a good start. Thank god all of them are electoral loosers, so keep that in mind please. I mean people need to vote idiots like this out. Republicanism can not let this stand. You can not be for a republic and a theocracy at the same time. Oh you can be parts of our nation, but you must teach Jesus and dinosaurs. Or satan and what again Rick?

yeah thinking that we as a people (that is through government) should help people in tough situations out, because that is good for all of us, is totally worshipping government

*rolleyes*.

and ya, if they NEED the government for all that in perpetuity, then them voting to cut that net will never happen. And it seems clear that is the way democrats want it. Therefore the liberal religion is born.

EatTheWorld:couldn't we say a government that cradles us from outside the womb to tomb...To me that is a religion to the state. When the government has all that control on your food, health and money, they control you.

Statism exists in a variety of ideological flavors. Its not a religion itself though--religions have rituals. Specific nationalisms on the other hand are quite religious. American civil religion has its sacred scriptures (Const, DOI), its rituals (voting, pledge of allegiance) and its mythic narrative it convinces itself its about (twirling, ever-twirling towards freedom and progress).

So it's "spiritual warfare" to want the government to abide by its own doctrine? It's "warfare" to not want fundie wingnuts designing science and health classes for public schools? It's "warfare" to not permit public funds to religious institutions? It's "warfare" that a non-believer has the very same rights you all do?

Do you charlatan sh*tstains ever get tired of using the word "warfare" to describe what's actually "we're pitching b*tch-fits whenever we can't force our dogma on the public?" Whiny-ass, spiteful p*ssies, the lot of you

Somacandra:Statism exists in a variety of ideological flavors. Its not a religion itself though--religions have rituals. Specific nationalisms on the other hand are quite religious. American civil religion has its sacred scriptures (Const, DOI), its rituals (voting, pledge of allegiance) and its mythic narrative it convinces itself its about (twirling, ever-twirling towards freedom and progress).

semantics I say. What is the difference between fanaticism for the church or the state?

dickfreckle:Do you charlatan sh*tstains ever get tired of using the word "warfare" to describe what's actually "we're pitching b*tch-fits whenever we can't force our dogma on the public?" Whiny-ass, spiteful p*ssies, the lot of you